New Hampshire residents digging out from major snowstorm

DOVER — Rain and heavy snowfall continue to sweep across central and southeastern New Hampshire today as the state's first major snow event of the season winds down.

From STAFF REPORTSnews@fosters.com

DOVER — Rain and heavy snowfall continue to sweep across central and southeastern New Hampshire today as the state's first major snow event of the season winds down.

The worst of the storm had passed through New Hampshire by the early afternoon, according to Accuweather Meteorologist Mark Paquette.

“It certainly looks like it is wrapping up,” he said at about 12:30 p.m.

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Dover residents saw a blustery winter day with snow and strong winds making a mess of the roadways and making it difficult to get around. The city had received at least 6 inches of snow by midday, with more flakes continuing to fall. Most of the freezing rain and sleet seen during the morning had converted to large white flakes by noon.

Further south, the storm brought strong winds and heavy rain in the morning and early afternoon, but residents were spared from inches of snowfall. Paquette said the warm Atlantic Ocean is to blame for the lack of snowfall in the southern Seacoast region.

“The ocean is a huge heat source,” he said. “Through the winter, the Atlantic will cool.”

The temperature was hovering at about 34 degrees in Portsmouth, with reports of rain and sleet dousing the area. The precipitation is expected to turn to snow later in the day as temperatures drop, according to Paquette, who said Portsmouth should receive a coating measuring at least 1 inch deep later in the day.

“It should be all snow for Portsmouth, but they get this persistent wind off the water with just enough marine air to be warm enough for rain instead of snow,” Paquette said. “But just inland, it is cold enough for snow. We see this trend in New England all the time. It is classic.”

Portsmouth police reported residents had few problems maneuvering the roads as of noon Thursday.

In Hampton, the noon high tide sent water spilling over some coastal roads, including Ocean Boulevard. Aside from localized flooding, the community experienced few storm-related problems, according to a dispatcher at the police department.

"We're all rain, so it's just the typical coastal flooding," she said at approximately 12:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service reported the Seacoast area would receive the least amount of snow — between about 2 inches and 4 inches.

By contrast, northern Strafford County towns such as Farmington and Wakefield were expected to see an accumulation of between 10 inches and 12 inches. Rochester is slated to get about 10 inches of snowfall.

The New Durham Police Department reported many residents appeared to be staying off the roads and no accidents had been called in as of noon.

NWS Meteorologist Tom Hawley said the snowfall is expected to stop by 8 p.m. tonight, and Portsmouth could expect rain and sleet for the remainder of the afternoon.

Overall, Hawley said this Nor'easter was "nothing out of the ordinary."

"I think it's just a normal run of the mill storm, really," he said.

In Dover, the storm brought out some helpful local business owners, who assisted their snowed-in neighbors and customers.

Mike Cartelli, owner of Cartelli's Bar and Grill on Central Ave., was clearing the sidewalk with a snowblower in the area of his restaurant and Oriental Delight.

“He's a good man. He helps a lot,” neighboring restaurant owner Judy Pu said as she cleared some snow with her husband, Shen, in front of Oriental Delight.

At a normally busy breakfast spot, Weeks Kitchen was brimming with customers despite the inches of slush along the sidewalks in that area of the city, cook, John Nason, grabbed a red shovel to help dig out a customers vehicle parked in front of the restaurant with its tires buried in heavy snow.

“People need the help,” he said of why he came out of the warm kitchen of the restaurant to shovel for someone else.

As far as storm-related incidents, the Garrison City saw very few by early afternoon with police and fire officials reporting only minor car accidents due to vehicles sliding off slippery roadways.

Digging out her Honda which was stuck in the snow that had built up in the Orchard Street parking lot, Dover resident Sarah Miller, a Spanish and French language teacher, said she had been trying to clear "neige" for most of the morning and get her car to move.

"Neige," Miller said is French for "snow."

Deputy Police Chief Rene Kelley said the Durham area was pretty quiet during the storm and he suspected many residents stayed home from work or other obligations for the day due to the weather.

Lee and Madbury were also a quiet through the early hours of Thursday afternoon, according to officials, though roadways were reportedly very treacherous as snow continued to accumulate on the roads.

No power outages had been reported to Dover officials as of shortly before 2 p.m.